Everton 0-2 Manchester City: Match Review and Player Ratings

Manchester City secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park on April 19, 2025, with late goals from Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic sealing the three points. The victory strengthened City’s push for a top-four finish, while Everton’s mid-table position remained unchanged after a hard-fought but ultimately unsuccessful performance.

Match Summary

The game was a tightly contested affair for much of the 90 minutes, with Everton defending resolutely before City’s superior quality told in the final stages. The home side frustrated Pep Guardiola’s men for long periods, but two second-half goals ensured City left Merseyside with all three points.

First Half: Everton Hold Firm

Everton set up in a compact 5-4-1 shape, limiting City’s space in the final third. The best chance of the half fell to James Tarkowski, whose header from a corner was well saved by Stefan Ortega. At the other end, Erling Haaland had a couple of half-chances but was kept quiet by a disciplined Everton backline.

Second Half: City’s Pressure Tells

The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute when substitute Nico O’Reilly fired home from the edge of the box after a clever cutback from Phil Foden. Everton pushed for an equalizer, but Mateo Kovacic sealed the win in the 88th minute with a composed finish after a quick counter-attack.

Player Ratings

Everton

Jordan Pickford (6.5/10) – Made a couple of smart saves but couldn’t do much about the goals.
Seamus Coleman (6/10) – Worked hard defensively but offered little going forward.
James Tarkowski (7/10) – Strong in the air and made several crucial blocks.
Jarrad Branthwaite (6.5/10) – Composed on the ball but caught out for the second goal.
Vitalii Mykolenko (6/10) – Solid defensively but struggled against City’s wingers at times.
James Garner (6.5/10) – Energetic in midfield but lacked creativity in the final third.
Amadou Onana (7/10) – A physical presence in midfield, breaking up play well.
Dwight McNeil (5.5/10) – Quiet game, didn’t influence the attack enough.
Jack Harrison (6/10) – Worked hard but couldn’t provide a cutting edge.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (5.5/10) – Isolated up front, had very few chances.

Manchester City

Stefan Ortega (7/10) – Reliable when called upon, made a key save in the first half.
Kyle Walker (7/10) – Provided width and defensive stability.
Rúben Dias (7.5/10) – Commanding at the back, dealt well with Everton’s physicality.
John Stones (7/10) – Comfortable in possession and helped build attacks.
Josko Gvardiol (6.5/10) – Solid defensively but didn’t contribute much going forward.
Rodri (8/10) – Controlled the tempo of the game, as always.
Mateo Kovacic (8/10) – Scored the second goal and was excellent in midfield.
Kevin De Bruyne (7/10) – Not at his absolute best but still created chances.
Phil Foden (7.5/10) – Lively throughout, provided the assist for the opener.
Jérémy Doku (6.5/10) – Threatening in flashes but lacked end product.
Erling Haaland (6/10) – Well-marshalled by Everton’s defence, quiet by his standards.

Substitutes

Nico O’Reilly (8/10) – Made an immediate impact with the opening goal.
Bernardo Silva (7/10) – Added composure in the final stages.

Final Thoughts

Manchester City’s patience and quality eventually broke down a stubborn Everton side, with the substitutes making the difference. Everton defended well but lacked attacking threat, while City’s depth proved crucial in securing the win. The result keeps City firmly in the hunt for Champions League football, while Everton’s season continues to drift toward a mid-table finish.

Everton 0-2 Manchester City – Match Review